Lubricating system for engines.



B. H. TURNAGE, LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.21, 1911.

Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

" TTED STAT ares LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

Application filed October 21, 1911. Serial No. 655,837.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BENJIMAN H. TURN- AGE, acitizen of the United States, residing at- Society Hill, in the countyof Darlington and State of South Carolina, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Lubricating Systems for Engines, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in lubricatingsystems for engines and more particularly to an automatic oiler for thecrank case thereof, the primary object of the invention being to'provide such a system wherein there will be a constant circulation ofthe lubricant when the engine is in operation and at all times willprovide a suflicient amount of oil to lubricate the parts in the crankcase,

A further object of the invention resides in providing a system whereinthe oil is fed by gravity to the crank case, and a still further objectresides in providing a means for drawing the oil from the crank casewhen the engine is in motion.

Still another object of the invention resides in providing an auxiliarytank into which the oil from the crank case is drawn,

said tank being also in communication with :the supply pipe extendingfrom the resertank to flow to the crank case when said float valve ismoved to its efiective position.

A still further object resides in providing a device which is simple anddurable in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and thoroughlyefficient and useful in operation. I With these and other objects inview, my invention consists in the novel features of construction,combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter referred toand more particularly pointed out in the specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, thefigure is a side elevation partly in section of my improved system.

In carrying out my invention, I shall refer to the drawing in whichsimilar reference characters designate. corresponding parts throughoutthe several views and in which- 1 indicates an oil supply tankorreservoir which, when used on an automobile, is adapted to be positionedeither on the rear of the machine or below the seat thereof, as desired,from which tank extends a supply conduit 2, and an auxiliary tank 3 isalso provided to which said conduit leads, but does not directlycommunicate therewith. The tank 3 has threaded on the upper end thereof,a cap or closure 4, and disposed in said tank, is a float or the like 5pivotally carried on the one end of an arm 6 which, in turn, ispivotally carried on the one end of a balancing arm or lever 7. Thisbalancing arm 7 is pivoted, as shown at 8, in one side of the tank 3having a portion thereof extending within said tank proper, while aportion thereof extends therebeyond, and the end of the latter portionhas pivotally connected thereto, an arm 9, the purpose of which will behereinafter and more particularly described. The arm 9 and that portionof the arm 7 which extends beyond the side of the tank 3, is inclosed ina casing or the like 10 formed on the side of the tank 3, into the lowerend of which extends the conduit 2, and the lower end of said arm 9carries thereon, a valve 11 which is adapted to be disposed in a seat 12at the point where the conduit 2 leads to said casing 10, whereby itwill be seen that the flow of oil from the tank 1 to the casing 10, maybe cut off at certain times. This casing 10 has also leading to thelower end thereof immediately adjacent the point to which the conduit 2leads, an additional. pipe or conduit 13 which extends upwardly to acrank case 14 of an engine 15 and this pipe 13 also communicatesdirectly with the tank 3 through the opening or passage-way 16, thepurpose of which will be hereinafter and more particularly described.The tank 3, itself, communicates with the casing 10 above the pointwhere the float reaches its maximum point, as shown at 17 the purpose ofwhich will also be hereinafter and more particularly described, andcommunicating with said tank 3 immediately adj aecnt the bottom thereof,is a casing 18, within which is mounted a rotary motor or pump 19, saidcasing also having extending therefrom, a conduit 20 which extends toand communicates with said crank case 14:. This rotary 'pump or motor l9is preferably operated from the engine 15 in any desired manner,

but, of course, may be otherwise operated, if desired, and it must alsobe stated that the casing It) is provided at the upper end thereof.with,an opening 21- for which there is provided a closure 22, whereby incase of necessity, for any reason, whatsoever, entrance may be had tosaid casing 10.

In operation, when the'reservoir' is filled with oil, said oil isadapted to feed by graverably connected with said engine, is setinmotion which will draw the oil from the crank case 14 through theconduit 20 into the auxiliary or float tank 3, and as the oil rises insaid tank 3, the float 5 will rise therewith and when reaching apredetermined point, will cause the valve 11 to be disposed effectivelyin the seat 12 and there by prevent the further flow of oil-from thetank 1. When the float 5 reaches this'point, however, the opening 16 inthe tank 3 leading to said pipe 13, will be below the level of the oilin said tank, which will permit saidoil toflow through said conduitldback to the crank case 14. This will, of course, allow the float todescend slightly which will permit of the valve 11 being opened, wherebythe flow of oil from the tank 1 will again be permitted to flow directlyto the crankcase 14, and in this manner, the oil is kept constantlyflowing to the crank case and is set in circulation by the pump 19 aslong as said engine is in operation. Should at any time the flow of oilinto the tank 3 from the crank case 14: through the conduit 20-become sogreat as to overflow the float 5, said oil may be permitted to make itsexit through the opening 17 into the casing 10, where it will pass tothe conduit 13 and again be conducted to the crank case, and in thismanner, there will be absolutely no chance for overflow and at the sametime, a constant flow, of oil will be conducted to the operating partsin said crank case When the engine is not in operation, however, so

that the pump 19 will also not be inoperation, the oil in the crank caseand the tank 3 will seek equal levels, which level will cause the float5 to' reach its maximum height and thereby close the valve 11 andprevent the unnecessary flow of oil from the tank 1, and thus it will beseen that the parts in the crank case may be; lubricated even when theengine is not in operation.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that 1 have provided an improvedoiling system for the crank case of an engine, wherein the same will beeffective whether said engine It will further be 1 fie will be aconstant c1rculat1on of the 011 when is in operation or not. seen thatthis system is one in which there the engine is in operation. It- 'willfurther be seen that'I have provided an auxiliary tank havingindirectcommunication with the supply pipe between the crank case and the mainreservoir, which tank has means therein for the control of oil from themain reservoirto the tank.- Furthermore, it will be seen that I haveprovided means for the drawing of the oil from the crank case tothis'tank, which oil, drawn within said tank, is adapted to indirectlycontrol the flow of oil from the main reservoir to said crank,

case. the apparatus in this device is simple and durable inconstruction, the same is extremely efficient and useful in operation.

What I claim is 1. In a lubricating apparatus, the combination with anoil reservoir, and a conduit leading therefrom; of an auxiliary tankwith which said conduit communicates, a p y point a acent the entrancevof the conduit thereto, to a housing-adapted to receive the oil from thereservoir, a return pipe entering said tank, and a float valve in saidtank operating in connection with the aforesaid conduit at its entranceto the tank. 2. In a lubricatingappara-tus, the'combination with an oilreservoir, and a housing (pipe leading from said tank, at a i It willstill further be seen that while" ice to which the oil in said reservoiris adapted to be onducted; of an auxiliary tank, a conv duit leadingfrom the reservoir to said tank, a supply pipe extending from the tankto said housing, the entrance of said pipe to the tank being adjacentthe entrance of the conduit thereto, a return pipe between said case andtank, a rotary pump mounted with: in said return pipe, at float withinsaid tank,

and avalveoperated by said float to open andkclose the entrance of saidconduit to the tan a 4. In a lubricating system of the class described,the combination with the crank case of an engine; of an oil reservoir,an auxiliary tank, said tank having a casing formed on one side thereof,a conduit leading from said reservoir to said casing, a float-operatedvalve at the entrance of said conduit to said casing, an additionalconduit extending from said casing to the crank case, said latterconduit also having direct communication with the tank, communicatingmeans be- .tween the lower portions of said crank case and tank, and apump disposed in said communicating means.

5. In a lubricating system of the class described, the combination withthe crank case of an engine; of an oil reservoir, an auxiliary tank,said tank being provided with a casing in one side thereof havingcommunication with said tank, conduit leading from said reservoir tosaid casing, a valve seated at the entrance of said conduit to saidcasing, a float disposed in said tank operating said valve, anadditional conduit lead ing from said casing to the crank case, saidlatter conduit also having communication with said tank, and a pumpadapted to draw the oil from the crank case to said tank.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses. BENJMAN H. TURNAGE. Witnesses:

J. C. GoonsoN, JOHN H. WALLACE.

